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Impacted Persons List Anming Hu 胡安明 Read more Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 Read more Charles Lieber Read more Chen Song 宋琛 Read more Danhao Wang 汪丹浩 Read more Davis Lu Read more Franklin Tao 陶丰 Read more Gang Chen 陈刚 Read more Gee-Kung Chang 張繼昆 Read more Haizhou Hu Read more James Patrick Lewis Read more Jane Ying Wu 吴瑛 Read more Juan Tang 唐娟 Read more Kaikai Zhao 赵凯凯 Read more Kevin Wang Read more Lei Guan 关磊 Read more Lin Yang Read more Meyya Meyyappan Read more Mingqing Xiao Read more Qing Wang 王擎 Read more Simon Saw-Teong Ang 洪思忠 Read more Song Guo Zheng Read more Turab Lookman 特拉伯·鲁克曼 Read more Van Andel Research Read more Wuyuan Lu 陆五元 Read more Xiao-jiang Li 李晓江 Read more Xiaofeng Wang 王晓峰 Read more Xiaoming Zhang Read more Xiaoxing Xi 郗小星 Read more Xifeng Wu 吴息凤 Read more Xin Wang 王欣 Read more Yanping Chen 陈燕平 Read more Yanqing Ye Read more Yu Zhou, Li Chen Read more Zaosong Zheng Read more Zhendong Cheng Read more Filter by Category China Initiative NIH Other Sort by Alphabetical by first name Alphabetical by last name

Jane Ying Wu 吴瑛 Case number: 2025L007963 Cook County Circuit Court Estate of Dr. Jane Wu v Northwestern University Date Filed: June 23, 2025 On August 31, 2024, South China Morning Post published an exclusive report on the tragic passing of Dr. Jane Ying Wu 吴瑛 , a prominent Chinese American researcher in neurology and genetics at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Wu took her own life on July 10, 2024, after her lab was shut down and all records of her work were erased by Northwestern University. Her death has drawn attention to the negative impact of the "China Initiative" and "foreign interference" investigations by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which targeted scientists of Chinese descent. Over 250 scientists, most of them of Asian origin, have been scrutinized by the NIH alone, leading to job losses and severe personal and professional damages, and now an apparent loss of life. According to the report, there were only two indictments and three convictions as legal outcomes of the NIH's "China Initiative" investigations, yet at least 112 scientists lost their jobs as a result. The NIH Office of Extramural Research, headed by Dr. Michael Lauer , declined to say whether Dr. Wu was a target but a source informed about the matter said there were investigations of Dr. Wu. Dr. Wu was remembered by her peers as a warm, caring, and inspiring role model. Dr. Wu's contributions to neurodegenerative disease research and her involvement in training the next generation of scientists in the U.S. and China were widely recognized. She significantly influenced the careers of many scientists, including Dr. Bing Ren , who credits her with guiding him into molecular biology. “Dr Wu taught me basic molecular biology skills, and showed me how discoveries were made at the bench,” said Dr. Ren, who first met Dr. Wu in 1993 and worked under her direct supervision at Harvard University. “Dr Wu was the one that opened my eyes to the wonderful world of molecular biology, and convinced me to pursue a career in this field,” said the professor in cellular and molecular medicine at the University of California, San Diego. “The investigations killed her career,” said Dr. Xiao-Fan Wang , a distinguished professor in cancer research at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. “She was such a devoted scientist. Denying her the right to do research was like taking away the most important thing in her life,” Dr. Wang said. Dr. Wang is a former president of the Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America (SCBA) said the research community had been devastated by Wu’s death. “It’s hard to believe such a familiar and upbeat colleague has left us,” he said. In March 2019, SCBA, the Chinese American Hematologist and Oncologist Network, and the Chinese Biological Investigators Society write an open letter to Science , titled " Racial Profiling Harms Science ." "[We] hope that ... increased security measures will not be used to tarnish law-abiding scientists ...," the letter said. Molecular geneticist Adrian Krainer from the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York said, “I remember her as a kind and caring person. She was very devoted to training the next generation of scientists in both the US and China.” Born in Hefei, Anhui province in 1963, Dr. Wu graduated from Shanghai Medical University in 1986 and went on to earn her doctorate in cancer biology from Stanford University in the US. She did postdoctoral research at Harvard University and spent a decade at Washington University in St Louis as an assistant and then associate professor in pediatrics, molecular biology and pharmacology before joining Northwestern University in 2005. Northwestern University has not responded to multiple inquiries from the South China Morning Post since July 2024. Dr. Wu’s profile page on the medical school has disappeared. Other web pages, such as her publication and grant records on the Northwestern Scholar website, have also been deleted. “The university’s reaction is rather unusual,” said a Chinese American biologist based in Ohio, who did not wish to be named. “Normally, the school or the university would publish an obituary and keep the faculty’s webpage for a period of time.” Dr. Wu was buried in Chicago on July 17, 2024. She was 60 years old. Dr. Jane Wu's Estate Sues Northwestern University In June 2025, Dr. Wu's family, acting through her estate, filed a civil lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court alleging that the Northwestern University discriminated against her and contributed to her suicide. She was a tenured professor at Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine. Following the NIH’s investigation and Northwestern University’s subsequent efforts to block her work, Dr. Wu suffered from a loss of vision as a result of a stroke she had under the stress of the investigation. She also experienced depression, but she was still able to work. In May 2024, Northwestern University handcuffed and removed Dr. Wu from her office, using her emotional disability as a “pretext” to evict her. The school then partially shut down her laboratory, dismantled her research team, reassigned her grants to white male colleagues, and committed her involuntarily to psychiatric care—actions taken without family consultation. Tragically, Dr. Wu passed away by suicide on July 10, 2024, two weeks after her release from the hospital. Following the one-year anniversary of her mother’s passing, Dr. Wu’s daughter, Elizabeth Rao 饶婕 , opened up for the first time in an exclusive interview on the devastating impact of her mother’s treatment on their family and her own life. The lawsuit was filed with the Circuit Court of Cook County in Illinois on June 24, 2025. Case number is 2025L007963. It claims institutional discrimination based on her national origin, sex, and disability, citing violations of the Illinois Human Rights Act and seeking both compensatory and punitive damages. The case was assigned to Judge Jonathan Clark Green . A court hearing was held on December 1, 2025, starting at 9 am CT. Location is Court Room 1906, Richard J Daley Center, 50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602. Northwestern University filed a motion to dismiss the case. On February 12, 2026, the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), the Federation of Asian Professor Associations (FAPA), and more than 1,000 signatories sent a letter to Northwestern University (NU) then-President Henry Bienen and NU Feinberg School of Medicine Dean Eric Neilson expressing concerns about allegations raised by the Estate of Dr. Jane Ying Wu regarding the University’s treatment of her. The number of signatories continues to grow. At a hearing on February 24, 2026, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Jonathan Clark Green rejected NU’s request for dismissal, allowing the case to move ahead. On July 9, NU’s American Association of University Professors (NU-AAUP) officers sent a letter to University President Mung Chiang and Provost Erik Luijten asking them to affirm the University’s commitment to tenure as denoted by AAUP standards and the Faculty Handbook. Faculty Senate leadership also wrote to the University, raising concerns about its position on tenure in a court filing in Jane Wu’s case. University lawyers, however, have disputed NU’s obligation to adhere to these standards. Several NU-AAUP and Faculty Senate leaders said that NU’s position in Jane Wu’s case “ undermines academic freedom .” On July 16, 2026, Judge Jonathan Clark Green denied the NU’s motion to dismiss the suit on eight of the lawsuit’s nine counts, including false imprisonment, medical malpractice and discrimination on the basis of national origin. He directed Thomas Geoghegan, the lawyer for Wu’s estate, to amend the remaining count - which alleges that Northwestern breached Wu’s contract by denying her tenure - July 30. Judge Green also ordered Northwestern to file an amended response to the complaint by August 20. “My grief and anguish at Northwestern University and Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s treatment of my mother continues,” said Elizabeth Rao, Dr. Wu’s daughter. “We are proceeding with the case.” On August 27, 2026, Judge Jonathan Clark Green ordered discovery to begin in the suit, and scheduled a status hearing for November 5. References and Links Circuit Court of Cook County: Online Civil, Law, Chancery, Domestic Case Search (Law - Personal Injury and Contract Cases over $30K, malpractice, attorney codes) 2026/08/27 Evanston Roundtable: Discovery to begin in estate of Jane Wu’s discrimination suit against Northwestern 2026/07/31 The Daily Northwestern: NU’s legal stance on tenure in case involving late Feinberg Prof. Jane Wu alarms faculty leaders 2026/07/17 Asian American Scholar Forum: BREAKING: Judge Largely Denies Northwestern’s Motion to Dismiss in Dr. Jane Ying Wu Case, Allowing Case to Proceed 2026/07/16 Evanston Roundtable: Judge indicates majority of Jane Wu’s discrimination suit against Northwestern will move forward 2026/03/04 NPR: Family sues after researcher's death, alleging university's probe led to suicide 2026/02/25 South China Morning Post: Suicide lawsuit against China-born scientist Jane Wu’s US university to proceed 2026/02/16 AASF: Signatories Letter to Support Justice and Honor the Memory of Dr. Jane Ying Wu 2025/12/03 South China Morning Post: US university seeks to dismiss lawsuit by family of China-born scientist Jane Wu 2025/07/12 NBC News: After Northwestern scientist questioned for China ties died by suicide, family sues and speaks out 2025/07/01 South China Morning Post: Family of China-born neuroscientist Jane Wu files death-related civil complaint in US 2025/06/26 Daily Northwestern: Estate of Feinberg professor sues University for discrimination, role in suicide 2019/03/22 Science: Racial profiling harms science Previous Item Next Item

Jeremy Wu, PhD Founder and Co-Organizer, APA Justice Retired Federal Government Official - Dr. Jeremy S. Wu, a long-time civil rights advocate, founded APA Justice in 2015 to address racial profiling and fairness issues for the Asian Pacific American community. He is a member of the Committee of 100 and was elected Senior Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration in 2022. Jeremy was a senior federal executive, retiring from the Census Bureau after also serving at the Departments of Transportation, Energy, and Agriculture. His pioneering Big Data work at the Census Bureau included an online mapping application recognized as a major U.S. statistical innovation at the United Nations in 2009. Jeremy was Civil Rights Director at the U.S. Department of Transportation after 9/11, serving as principal advisor to Secretary Norman Mineta on civil rights and equal opportunity. He later served as Acting Chief Statistician. From 2000 to 2002, he was National Ombudsman for the U.S. Department of Energy and advisor to Secretary Bill Richardson during the Wen Ho Lee case. Jeremy became the first Asian Pacific American career senior executive at USDA in 1997, serving as Deputy Director from 1997 to 2000 after 15 years as Chief Statistician. His work with China led to China lifting its wheat embargo in 1999. Jeremy holds a PhD in Statistics from George Washington University and served three terms as Chair of the Asian American Government Executives Network. Born in Hong Kong, he speaks fluent Cantonese and Mandarin. He is married to the former Deanie Pin and lives in McLean, Virginia. Vincent Wang Charlotte Ding Product Developer, APA Justice - Charlotte manages APA Justice’s online presence and digital strategy, including web, social media, and web content management system. In 2023, she joined APA Justice as an intern working on web design and content management. She was retained as a Web Developer following the internship and was named Product Developer in 2025 to focus on digital strategy and workflow management using new technologies including AI. Charlotte is passionate about using technologies to make information more accessible and help mission-driven organizations expand their impact. Alongside her work with APA Justice, Charlotte has worked as a software engineer on a research project with UC Law San Francisco and the Center for Negotiation & Dispute Resolution, where she built an AI-powered negotiation simulation platform. The project explores how AI can reason through complex, open-ended negotiation scenarios and has been used in advanced negotiation classes. Charlotte recently graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a minor in Data Science. She was recently selected as a Claude Corps fellow, to participate in a 12-month fellowship with Anthropic that places early-career technologists with nonprofit organizations to develop AI tools and systems that advance their missions. Through the fellowship, she hopes to continue exploring how emerging technology can be thoughtfully applied to social-impact work. Madeleine Gable Communications Associate, APA Justice - Madeleine Gable researches issues and develops content for APA Justice’s Newsletters, social media and website. Driven by a commitment to social justice, Madeleine joined APA Justice as a Communications Intern in October 2024 and was retained as a Communications Associate in 2025. She has researched pressing policy and legal developments, built visualization tools for the APA Justice website content, and written for its website and newsletters. In summer 2026, Madeleine served as a Global Affairs Intern at the Investment Company Institute, the trade association for the U.S. regulated funds industry, where she researched and analyzed financial regulation across six continents. She is currently a senior at New York University (NYU), studying International Relations with minors in Economics and Chinese. A Dean’s List student in NYU’s departmental honors program, she is writing her senior thesis on private credit and sovereign lending in China’s international finance strategy. Raised in California, Madeleine spent three years in Vancouver, where she began learning Mandarin and continued after returning home. Mandarin has since anchored her academic and professional path: she completed an eight-credit advanced Chinese immersion program at NYU Shanghai one summer, then returned for a full semester during her junior year, sharpening her understanding of how law, policy, and finance shape cross-border business. After graduation, Madeleine plans to pursue a legal career in financial governance and international business, advocating for a range of clients and working to make the financial system more fair and accessible. Harrison Vijay Tsui Government Affairs and Community Relations Manager, APA Justice - Harrison Vijay Tsui leads the organization’s advocacy and relational efforts with stakeholder groups, media, and elected officials. He previously served as an APAICS fellow for Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28) where he advised health care, immigration, environmental, and Asian American policy. During his time with the Congresswoman, he championed civil rights legislation including a Congressional resolution recognizing the Rock Springs Chinese Massacre of 1885. Before working on Capitol Hill, Harrison was a regional organizer for Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign and President Joe Biden’s presidential reelection campaign in Philadelphia. He was then named a Blueline Fellow for his work and selected to the DCCC Asian American Action Cohort in recognition of his AANHPI engagement. Harrison previously served as a graduate consultant for the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs working on government innovation and e-governance. Prior to policy and public service, Harrison was a New York City journalist where his work can be found on Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History , NBC News 4 New York, WNYC, StoryCorps, Feet in 2 Worlds , the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, and NPR’s TED Radio Hour and How I Build This . He holds his dual master’s degrees in international affairs and journalism from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and Graduate School of Journalism, and his bachelor’s degree in journalism from New York University. Harrison lives in Lower Manhattan and can be found at Ornithology Jazz Club and playing basketball in Chinatown. Ryan Zhao Developer, APA Justice - Ryan Zhao primarily works on APA Justice’s technology and digital initiatives, developing and maintaining the organization’s website, internal tools, and technical projects. Since 2023, he has been working with APA Justice to support the documentation and dissemination of important Asian American issues. He helped build the APA Justice website and content management system, developing features including APA Justice's virtual library and LLM chatbot. Recently, he has been working on internal tools and agentic solutions to improve access to information, organizational workflows, and the organization’s broader digital capabilities. Ryan is a senior pre-med student majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin. Interested in healthcare and tech, he has researched machine learning methods for cancer characterization at MD Anderson and leads an AI team working on Brain Computer Interface systems at UT's largest Neurotechnology organization. He works as a medical assistant at a cardiology clinic serving primarily Asian patients in Houston. Ryan enjoys the piano and playing sports, with soccer, golf, and table tennis his favorites. APA Justice Team

About Us APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. History After a series of innocent Chinese American scientists in academia, government and private industry were wrongly accused of espionage-related charges and then had their cases dropped by the Department of Justice without full explanation and accountability, a group of volunteers gathered to provide a platform and to connect concerned organizations and individuals with the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) in the Fall of 2015. Organizations and individuals participate in this voluntary group share these fundamental beliefs: there has been historical exclusionary laws and internment of Asian Americans in violation of their constitutional rights and American values for political scapegoating there is lack of government transparency and explanation on the recent use of overzealous methods and patterns of xenophobic profiling against innocent Asian Americans there is impact and damage of these recent adverse actions within the Asian American community with respect to their standing as Americans and ability to serve their country there are responsibilities and obligations for Asian American and Pacific Islander elected officials and community leaders to voice and address concerns; raise public awareness and participation; hold the government accountable; and seek proper transparency and oversight to prevent future similar occurrences Purpose On an ongoing basis, we strive to: seek full explanation and remedies for the recent individual cases including Ms. Sherry Chen and Professor Xiaoxing Xi and make the wrongly accused whole seek independent investigations of the overzealous investigative and prosecutorial methods and profiling of innocent Asian Americans based on ethnicity, national origin and protected civil rights factors identify resources and opportunities to raise public awareness, educate and provide training about legal environment and risks, and inform about statistics and rights engage law enforcement and prosecutors in dialogue, training, and similar activities to promote understanding of Asian American culture and community and openness and transparency of government operations partner with like-minded organizations and individuals to voice Asian American concerns about law enforcement and advance the purpose of this group formulate and advocate for continuing oversight, policy, and best practices to ensure justice and equal rights for Asian Americans facilitate consensus and coalition-building on an issue-by-issue basis Our Team APA Justice is made up of diverse group that brings together a combination of experience and passion. Meet our team to learn more about each member and their vital role in our mission. Meet the team

website under development Global Tensions and Local Dimensions Webinar Learn more Birthright Citizenship Learn more China Initiative Chinese academics and researchers were systemically targeted in a government-led initiative and may be at threat again in the future Learn more Racial Profiling Targeting of individuals or groups due to their race or ethnicity Learn more History and Purpose of APA Justice A platform for Asian American justice and fairness Learn more Warrantless Surveillance The U.S. government engages in mass, warrantless surveillance of American citizens Learn more APA JUSTICE WEBINAR SERIES June 3: Webinar on Geopolitics, Identity, and the Fight for Civil Rights LEARN MORE Global Tensions and Local Dimensions Webinar Details Global Tensions and Local Dimensions Webinar Details Global Tensions and Local Dimensions Webinar Details Global Tensions and Local Dimensions Webinar Details The Latest Court Hearing and A New Movement Emerges Read More We published a Special Edition of our newsletter to cover the July 18 court hearing on Florida's new discriminatory housing law. Lawsuit Against Florida Senate Bill 264 Read More A group of Chinese citizens who live, work, study, and raise families in Florida filed a lawsuit to combat Florida’s discriminatory property law, SB 264. Texas House Bill 1075 and Senate Bill 552 Read More Texas state representatives are attempting to stop foreign governments from purchasing Texas agricultural land. Rep. Judy Chu's New Year Greetings and 2022 Review Read More During the first APA Justice monthly meeting of 2023, Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, reviewed the accomplishments of 2022, highlighted by the end of the "China Initiative" and Sherry Chen's historic settlement. Community Calendar 01 Racial Profiling 03 Warrantless Surveillance 02 The China Initiative 04 Alien Land Bills Learn more about the pressing AAPI issues of today. Yellow Whistle Campaign Our partnership with the Yellow Whistle Project to promote self-protection and solidarity against discrimination and violence. Advocacy Our work with policy makers to push for AAPI rights and to ensure justice for AAPI academics and scientists. Know your rights Protect yourself by knowing your rights. National Media Network A national media alert network giving greater resources and a more assertive voice to the Asian American community. WHAT WE DO Learn more Watchlist See important issues and legislation we're monitoring Report a Hate Incident Learn what it means to be Chinese American Library See important issues and legislation we're monitoring Report a Hate Incident Learn what it means to be Chinese American Resources Learn about the history, responses, and current state of the APA community. Name Email I accept terms & conditions Stay informed Stay up to date with the latest news and developments from APA Justice Last name Subscribe You've signed up for the APA Justice newsletter. Stay informed Stay up to date with the latest news and developments from APA Justice Name Email I accept terms & conditions Subscribe You've signed up for the APA Justice newsletter.

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Newsletter - #410 10/5 Meeting; Scientists Sue NIH; Unconstitutional 2030 Census Rule; John Yang Debrief #410 10/5 Meeting; Scientists Sue NIH; Unconstitutional 2030 Census Rule; John Yang Debrief In This Issue #410 · 2026/10/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Scientists Sue NIH, Alleging Unconstitutional Screening of Research Grants · Unconstitutional 2030 Census Rule Would Erase Race Data and Exclude Millions · John C. Yang Debriefs House Select Committee Hearing on China · News and Activities for the Communities 2026/10/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, October 5, 2026, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates from: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) We are honored to welcome the following confirmed distinguished speakers: · Cole Donovan , Director of Science Policy and Advocacy, Stand Up for Science Foundation · Hannah James , Counsel, Liberty & National Security, Brennan Center for Justice · Ann Chih Lin (林安之) , Director, Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies, Lieberthal-Rogel Professor of Chinese Studies, Associate Professor, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Vincent Wang 王文奎 and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . Scientists Sue NIH, Alleging Unconstitutional Screening of Research Grants A coalition of researchers filed a class-action lawsuit against the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on September 16, 2026, alleging the agency has been unconstitutionally screening grant applications and existing awards for language it politically disfavors — the latest and most direct legal challenge yet to the research funding upheaval APA Justice has tracked closely this year. What the Lawsuit Alleges The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, was brought by 17 researchers — 13 named and four anonymous — on behalf of themselves and all similarly situated scientists. It names NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya , HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr ., and DOGE as defendants, and is backed by the ACLU, ACLU of Northern California, Protect Democracy, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, and the Jacobson Lawyers Group. Plaintiffs allege NIH — the world's largest public funder of biomedical research — uses a list of 235 keywords, including "gender," "Latinx," and "climate change," to flag grants for termination, denial, or forced renegotiation, according to Reuters . Researchers who decline to scrub flagged language from their applications risk losing funding altogether. The lawsuit alleges violations of the First Amendment and the Administrative Procedure Act, arguing NIH is allowing political ideology to override scientific merit in funding decisions, contrary to congressional mandates. Notably, this contradicts NIH's own public position: Director Bhattacharya said in a July interview that he is "deeply against banned word lists" and would "not have [his] institution embrace them." Yet in a stipulation filed the same month in a separate case brought by University of California researchers, NIH's own head of extramural research acknowledged in writing that the agency "used search terms, keywords, or phrases to identify and terminate grants presumed to express viewpoints," according to STAT News . The Human Cost The complaint includes researchers whose work was cut off mid-study. Andrea Rosso , an epidemiologist at the University of Pittsburgh, co-led a five-year grant studying how structural racism contributes to higher and earlier rates of Alzheimer's disease in two Pittsburgh neighborhoods that have historically been excluded from research. Despite attempting to renegotiate the grant to align with NIH's new priorities, it was abruptly terminated on August 24, 2026 — in its final year, meaning her team may now be unable to determine whether the study's four-year participants have developed dementia. One plaintiff described the termination as "a loss not only for my team and myself, but also the broader medical community and for public health," per Higher Ed Science . A Continuing Legal Battle This is not the first legal challenge to NIH's grant terminations. In June 2025, a federal court ruled NIH's DEI-related terminations unlawful, but the Supreme Court allowed the agency to proceed with cutting $783 million in such grants that August. A federal appeals court ruled in May 2026 that the terminations likely violated the First Amendment, and the administration has since asked the Supreme Court to review that decision, per Bloomberg Law . Because this new suit is a class action, a favorable ruling would extend beyond the 17 named plaintiffs to any researcher affected by the screening policy. Why This Matters for APA Community This lawsuit adds to a pattern we have tracked extensively this year: the OMB grantmaking rule, NSF's research security policy, and now NIH's grant screening all reflect a broader shift toward political control over federally funded science. Research on health disparities — often the kind most likely to involve historically understudied and underserved communities, including Asian American and other minority populations — is disproportionately likely to be flagged by screening focused on terms like "diversity" and "equity," raising the same concerns about who bears the cost of these policies that we have raised in our OMB and NSF coverage. Update: White House Executive Order Plan Appears Dead — For Now The executive order effort escalated quickly after the initial New York Times report, then collapsed just as fast. Per Science/AAAS , the proposed committee would have been co-chaired by NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya and OMB Director Russell Vought and required a unanimous vote to approve any grant — with Bhattacharya reportedly refusing, in the September 19 Oval Office meeting, to cut Harvard's NIH funding specifically, which Politico reported was part of Trump's motivation for wanting the new board's veto power in the first place. The plan drew swift bipartisan pushback. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, sent a letter on September 23 to both Vought and Bhattacharya, writing that the proposal "would undermine... the Federal government's objective of funding biomedical research projects based on scientific merit and value rather than political ideology," and stated flatly that OMB "should not be involved in agency decisions on the awards of grants." By September 23, Science/AAAS and STAT News reported the White House had backed off the plan following criticism from lawmakers in both parties — though both outlets caution the administration could still revive the effort in a different form. As of this writing, no executive order has been issued. What's Next This walk-back does not resolve the underlying legal fight: the ACLU-backed class-action lawsuit over NIH's keyword-based grant screening remains active and unaffected by the executive order's collapse, since that suit concerns policies already in effect rather than the proposed committee. NIH has not yet filed a formal response to that complaint. Given the pattern in prior NIH litigation — court-ordered reinstatements, agency appeals, and eventual Supreme Court involvement — that case is likely to take months or longer to resolve. Meanwhile, whether the administration attempts a narrower or differently structured version of the political-oversight board Collins and others opposed will be worth watching closely in the coming weeks. Unconstitutional 2030 Census Rule Would Erase Race Data and Exclude Millions The Census Bureau formally proposed on September 9, 2026, to strip race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation questions from the census questionnaire entirely, while separately proposing to exclude most noncitizens — not just undocumented immigrants — from the population data used to apportion U.S. House seats after the 2030 census. The overwhelming weight of legal authority, from the Constitution's own text to decades of Supreme Court precedent, says this rule is unconstitutional. What the Rule Actually Does The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on September 10, signed by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on September 8. It adds two new parts to federal regulations governing the census: On demographic data: The rule would prohibit any question about race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation from appearing on the decennial census short-form questionnaire "or any questionnaire used for the enumeration of the population." The Census Bureau's stated rationale, quoted directly from the rule: this process "factors in an element of allegiance but otherwise should be colorblind and should not be distorted in any way by questions about immaterial personal characteristics, such as race." The rule text also confirms that a person's "usual residence" would be determined in part using tax records — specifically "tax returns, W-2 forms." On apportionment: The rule is more sweeping than "excluding undocumented immigrants." Under the actual regulatory text (§60.4), only foreign citizens who are also U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (green card holders) would be counted for apportionment; "all other citizens of foreign countries" would not be counted at all. That means the rule, as written, would exclude not just undocumented immigrants but also visa holders, international students, refugees, and asylees who lack a green card — anyone without a "sufficient tie and allegiance to the United States," in the rule's own language. Disaggregated race and ethnicity data is what allows federal, state, and local governments to identify undercounted Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander subgroups, target language-access services, and enforce civil rights law — data that AAPI advocacy organizations have spent decades fighting to get properly collected in the first place. Public comments are due by October 13, 2026, submittable via regulations.gov under Docket No. USBC-2026-0628. As of this writing (September 26), the docket had received 10,315 comments , per the Federal Register's live comment counter. A Direct Link to Earlier Census Privacy Changes This rule is formally connected to a policy APA Justice covered in a recent issue: the Census Bureau's ban on "noise infusion" privacy techniques. The rule's own footnotes cite Department Administrative Order 216-26 , describing it as the order "prohibiting the use of noise infusion" — confirming, from the primary regulatory text itself, that this rule and the earlier noise-infusion ban are part of the same broader policy shift. Why This Rule Is Unconstitutional The Constitution's Enumeration Clause requires apportionment to be based on "the whole number of persons in each State." That language has been interpreted by the Supreme Court since the late 19th century to mean all people, regardless of immigration status, per the American Immigration Council . Notably, the Constitution does contain one explicit carve-out to this "whole number" language — for "Indians not taxed," as the rule's own text acknowledges — but neither the original Constitution nor the 14th Amendment's later revision of the apportionment language ever created a comparable exception for citizenship or immigration status. Proposals to count only citizens were explicitly considered and rejected both at the Constitutional Convention and again during debates over the 14th Amendment; a 1929 Senate legal counsel opinion also concluded that excluding noncitizens by statute would be unconstitutional. The Brennan Center for Justice has been among the most consistent legal voices tracking this fight. Thomas Wolf , senior counsel with Brennan's Democracy Program, called an earlier version of this effort "a patently unconstitutional path." In a more recent analysis, "Don't Debase the Census," the Brennan Center warned the effort could set up a "census two-step" — manipulating population numbers first, then enabling more aggressive partisan gerrymandering of the resulting maps. The rule's own text acknowledges it faces active legal challenges: it cites Missouri v. U.S. Department of Commerce , No. 26-cv-00131 (E.D. Mo., filed January 30, 2026), and Louisiana v. U.S. Department of Commerce , No. 25-cv-00076 (W.D. La., filed January 17, 2025) — both existing challenges to the treatment of noncitizens in the 2020 census's residence criteria. In 2020, a federal judicial panel separately found Trump's first-term attempt to exclude undocumented immigrants from apportionment unlawful and enjoined the administration from implementing it, according to the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law . What the Statistical and Demographic Community Is Saying Professional demographers have been sharp critics of the proposal's technical soundness, on top of the constitutional problem. William Frey , a senior fellow at Brookings Metro and a demographer who has consulted for the Census Bureau, told Axios the administration is attempting to redefine the count itself: "The current administration wants to have their own definition of who are real Americans, which is not the same as what the census has counted for many, many decades." Terri Ann Lowenthal , former staff director of the House subcommittee that conducted census and federal statistical system oversight, co-director of The Census Project, and now a Census Bureau policy consultant, called the scope of the proposed changes "breathtaking in how it'll affect census operations, census results, and equally important, public confidence in the integrity of the count." She added that the American Community Survey, which would continue asking demographic questions even if the decennial census drops them, "isn't fine-grained enough to support civil rights law enforcement," including fair housing laws and the Voting Rights Act. KFF noted in a September 25 issue brief that if finalized, this would mark the first time since the census's inception in 1790 that it has not collected race and/or ethnicity data — and the first time it has excluded millions of noncitizen immigrants from apportionment. The Population Association of America and The Census Project , a coalition of more than 800 national, state, and local organizations that has tracked census policy since 1996, have separately raised concerns throughout the year about the Bureau's scaled-back 2026 Operational Test and the broader erosion of census data quality. Civil Rights Organizations Push Back JACL issued a statement in opposition on September 10, the same day the rule was published, titled "JACL Opposes Proposed Census Rule That Would Strip Millions from Representation and Erase Civil Rights Data." JACL points to a specific historical irony: from 1922 to 1952, Japanese immigrants were legally barred from becoming U.S. citizens — yet the government continued to count them for apportionment throughout that period. JACL called on the Bureau to withdraw the proposal outright. Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC President and Executive Director John C. Yang said of earlier iterations of this fight: "Advancing Justice – AAJC is determined to put a stop to this President's attempt to politicize the census and use the Census Bureau and data collected for partisan gain." The ACLU , along with AAJC, is seeking to formally intervene in the pending Missouri litigation on behalf of OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, Make the Road New York, the New York Immigration Coalition, and FIEL Houston, arguing the case "asks the court to upend centuries of constitutional practice by excluding millions of residents from the decennial census." Congressional Response Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) have previously led dozens of colleagues in a letter urging congressional leadership to block similar language, arguing "the Constitution requires every person to be counted for in the U.S. Census." Separately, Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) introduced H.R. 10377, the "Make Apportionment Great Again (MAGA) Act," on September 15, with 42 Republican co-sponsors, confirmed via GovInfo . This is a distinct legislative effort — not part of the Census Bureau's rulemaking — that would statutorily exclude noncitizens from apportionment, mandate a citizenship question on all future censuses, and require a revised reapportionment before the 2028 election. It reflects the same underlying policy goal pursued through a separate, and currently slower-moving, legislative track. Why This Matters for the APA Community This proposal fits the broader pattern APA Justice has tracked this year of federal policy changes eroding the accuracy and completeness of data affecting immigrant and minority communities — directly connected, per the rule's own text, to the Census Bureau's separate noise-infusion ban we covered previously. Two distinct threats are stacked in this single rulemaking: the removal of race and ethnicity questions would strip away the disaggregated AANHPI data that civil rights enforcement and language-access programs depend on, while the apportionment change would affect a far broader population of Asian immigrants than "undocumented" status alone suggests — including visa holders, students, and other lawfully present noncitizens without green cards. What's Next The comment period runs through October 13, 2026. Litigation is already underway in the Eastern District of Missouri and Western District of Louisiana, where AAJC and OCA are seeking to intervene, and further legal challenges are widely expected if the administration proceeds toward finalizing a rule that stands on exceptionally weak constitutional footing. John C. Yang Debriefs House Select Committee Hearing on China At the July 6, 2026 APA Justice monthly meeting, John C. Yang , President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, provided a firsthand debrief of the hearing held by the House Select Committee on the CCP on June 25, 2026, where he served as one of three witnesses. Background on the Committee John opened with context on the committee itself. The House Select Committee on the CCP — formally the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition with the Chinese Communist Party — was established in 2023 under Republican leadership and was initially framed as a bipartisan effort to address concerns about the Chinese government. But John noted that Congress has never had a committee structured quite like this one: focused solely on a single country and, by extension, a single ethnicity. In his view, this framing distracts from legitimate national security concerns, particularly given that the U.S. has security concerns with many countries, not just China. John also described what he sees as the two competing purposes such hearings tend to serve: genuine factual inquiry meant to educate members on relevant issues, and political theater aimed at generating sound bites for campaigns emphasizing toughness on China. Each party selects its own witnesses — the minority party typically gets one, the majority two to three — and John was invited to testify by the Committee's Democratic members. Evidence Over Assumption While acknowledging that China presents legitimate national security and economic challenges, John emphasized that any policy response must be grounded in evidence, not assumptions based on ethnicity or national origin. Throughout his testimony, John argued that national security and civil rights should not be treated as competing priorities — they can and should be addressed through a nuanced, targeted approach, using a "scalpel" rather than a "sledgehammer." He cautioned against policies that cast broad suspicion on Chinese American researchers, students, and professionals, noting that racial profiling weakens both civil liberties and America's ability to attract and retain talent. Rather than relying on stereotypes, he urged policymakers to pursue targeted, evidence-based approaches that address genuine security concerns while respecting constitutional protections. John also reflected on the importance of staying calm and factual when discussing national security and civil rights in congressional settings or elsewhere, even when confronted with provocative statements — arguing that constructive dialogue and credible evidence are more persuasive with policymakers than confrontation. A Call to Action Looking ahead, John encouraged community members to: · Embrace their identity as both American and Asian American, push back on racism, and use everyday conversations to chip away at the "perpetual foreigner" myth over time. · Continue engaging with elected officials, educational institutions, and local organizations to keep Asian American voices part of the national conversation. · Continue building alliances with other marginalized groups, including Black and Latino communities, by acknowledging their distinct stereotypes and struggles. Why This Matters for the APA Community John's testimony offers a firsthand, on-the-record account of how Asian American voices are — and are not — being heard in one of Congress's venues for shaping China-related policy. His emphasis on evidence over ethnicity, and his call to build cross-community alliances, echoes themes APA Justice has returned to throughout this year's coverage of research security, immigration, and civil rights policy. July 2026 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Summary Posted The July 2026 monthly meeting summary has been posted at https://bit.ly/4yH4r6t . We thank these distinguished speakers at the July 6 meeting: · Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) · John C. Yang , President and Executive Director, Asian American Advancing Justice | AAJC · Frank H. Wu , 11th President, Queens College, City University of New York News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/10/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/10/14 China Connections: Breaking Into U.S.-China Policy Work 2026/11/14 America at 250: Where Has It Been and Where Is It Going? 2026/12/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. China Connections: Breaking Into U.S.-China Policy Work WHAT : China Connections: Breaking Into U.S.-China Policy Work WHEN : October 14, 2026, 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm ET WHERE : Lindner Family Commons, 1957 E St NW, Room 602, Washington, D.C. HOSTS : U.S.-China Education Trust (USCET), Sigur Center for Asian Studies, the Elliott School Graduate Student Services, Young China Watchers, and Career China Newsletter DESCRIPTION : Those studying China today face growing uncertainty regarding potential career pathways in the U.S.-China field, even as China expertise is more needed than ever across both the public and private sectors to navigate global challenges. This event brings together early-to mid-career professionals working on U.S.-China relations across the consulting, corporate, think tank, NGO, and government sectors to share insights from their career paths, highlight career possibilities, and offer practical advice for those considering work in foreign policy. The evening will open with a keynote from Robert Daly , followed by a panel discussion featuring Kalisha Holmes , McCall Mintzer , Bernice Xu and Neil Thomas , moderated by USCET Managing Director Ryan McElveen , and close with a light reception and networking session. This event is open to the public, with a particular focus on those exploring careers connected to foreign policy and China. FOR MORE INFORMATION : https://uscet.org/china-connections-breaking-into-u-s-china-policy-work/ 3. America at 250: Where Has It Been and Where Is It Going? WHAT: America at 250: Where Has It Been and Where Is It Going? WHEN: November 14, 2026 WHERE: Campus of NYU Shanghai, China HOSTS: NYU Shanghai and US-China Education Trust (USCET) DESCRIPTION: USCET, based in Washington, DC, has worked for more than 25 years to promote U.S.-China relations through education and exchange for the next generation of leaders. This is the 19th American Studies Network (ASN) Conference, facilitated by USCET. The ASN consists of 54 Chinese institutions of higher education. Working in partnership with ASN members, USCET has organized an annual American Studies Network Conference in China since 2004. Please note that this conference will be held in-person only; virtual/remote participation is not available. FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://uscet.org/call-for-papers-2026-asn-conference/ # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the APA Justice website at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF September 30, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

August 2026 Meeting Summary Aug 3, 2026 Read July 2026 Meeting Summary Jul 6, 2026 Read April 2026 Meeting Summary Apr 6, 2026 Read March 2026 Meeting Summary Mar 2, 2026 Read February 2026 Meeting Summary Feb 2, 2026 Read January 2026 Meeting Summary Jan 5, 2026 Read December 2025 Meeting Summaires Dec 1, 2025 Read November 2025 Meeting Summary Nov 3, 2025 Read October 2025 Meeting Summary Oct 6, 2025 Read September 2025 Meeting Summary Sep 8, 2025 Read August 2025 Monthly Meeting Summary Aug 4, 2025 Read July 2025 Meeting Summary Jul 7, 2025 Read Monthly Meeting Summaries APA Justice conducts monthly meetings and publishes the meeting summary on this website. Participation is by invitation only. Due to limited capacity, invited participants are typically active and recognized organizations and concerned individuals. Please send an email to contact@apajustice.org if you have interest. < < 1 1 1

#410 10/5 Meeting; Scientists Sue NIH; Unconstitutional 2030 Census Rule; John Yang Debrief September 30, 2026 Read #409 Special Edition: Remembering Norm Mineta's Legacy on September 11, 2026 September 14, 2026 Read #408 Frank Wu Remarks; August Meeting Highlights; AAU on OMB Rules; Inside Higher Ed Report September 10, 2026 Read #407 9/1 Monthly Meeting; NSF Rules Need Clarity; Getting Tech for US-China; AASF Symposium August 24, 2026 Read #406 Franklin Tao, Jane Wu Lawsuits; Trump on Birthright Citizenship Again; Census Rules; + August 13, 2026 Read #405 8/3 Monthly Meeting; Nicholas Platt; Re-identification Risk; IM Pei's Dallas City Hall August 3, 2026 Read #404 8/3 Monthly Meeting; Science in US Needs Plan; Coalition Pushes Back; AASF Symposium;+ July 27, 2026 Read #403 OMB Rules Gut Grants/Collaboration; Yanping Chen Motions; Election Speech Backlash; + July 23, 2026 Read #402 NSF to Ban Most Research with China; National APA Museum; More ICE Shootings; + July 16, 2026 Read #401 SCOTUS/APAs Reaffirm Birthright Citizenship; Reporter Herridge Contempt Fine Stands; + July 13, 2026 Read #400 400 Issues Later: Still Building Community, Advocacy, and Voice June 12, 2026 Read #399 A Memorable Webinar Co-Hosted by Committee of 100, U.S.-China Education Trust, and APA Justice June 10, 2026 Read < < 1 1 1 Newsletters APA Justice began publishing a free periodic newsletter about 4-7 times a month in July 2020. You can subscribe here . Visit the Virtual Library to search the entire collection. Filter by year

Latest Posts Court Hearing and A New Movement Emerges July 24, 2023 We published a Special Edition of our newsletter to cover the July 18 court hearing on Florida's new discriminatory housing law. Read More Lawsuit Against Florida Senate Bill 264 May 22, 2023 A group of Chinese citizens who live, work, study, and raise families in Florida filed a lawsuit to combat Florida’s discriminatory property law, SB 264. Read More Texas House Bill 1075 and Senate Bill 552 January 23, 2023 Texas state representatives are attempting to stop foreign governments from purchasing Texas agricultural land. Read More Rep. Judy Chu's New Year Greetings and 2022 Review January 9, 2023 During the first APA Justice monthly meeting of 2023, Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, reviewed the accomplishments of 2022, highlighted by the end of the "China Initiative" and Sherry Chen's historic settlement. Read More Campaign to Oppose The Nomination of Casey Arrowood July 29, 2022 Academics, elected officials, and civil rights groups across the country are raising concerns about the nomination of Casey Arrowood to be US Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Read More APA Justice Calls for Release of Report on Review of "China Initiative" March 8, 2022 On March 8, 2022, APA Justice sent a letter to Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen, calling for the release of a report on the Department of Justice's review of the “China Initiative.” Read More Texas man accused of attacking Asian family over racist coronavirus fears pleads guilty to hate-crime charges February 24, 2022 Nearly two years later, a 21-year-old Texas man who attempted to kill an Asian man and his young child has pleaded guilty to federal hate-crime charges. Read More 12. China Initiative Ends February 23, 2022 Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen announced the end of the China Initiative. The 1,210 days of the Initiative were extremely damaging to individuals and their families, as well as the Asian American and scientific communities. The end of the China Initiative is a welcomed start to correct the harms it caused. APA Justice is committed to continue its work to address racial profiling and seek justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American communities. Read More 11. MIT Technology Review Investigative Reports December 2, 2021 On December 2, 2021, MIT Technology Review published two investigative reports on the China Initiative as newly appointed Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen was conducting a review of the initiative. Read More < < 1 2 3 4 5 What's the best flavor? Activists Including APA Justice Resist New "Red Scare" Chinese Americans are increasingly finding themselves targeted by the US in what has become the new "Red Scare."

Read More 1. A Call to Stop Senate Bill 147 and All Alien Land Laws Friday, February 17, 2023 12:00 AM Read More 1. Bridging Nations: People-to-people Exchange in U.S.-China Relations Thursday, October 16, 2025 12:00 AM Read More 1. From Past Prejudice to Present Policy: The Impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities Wednesday, December 11, 2024 12:00 AM Read More 1. The Human and Scientific Costs of The "China Initiative" Wednesday, September 30, 2020 12:00 AM Read More 2. Bridging Nations: Global Competition for Talent & International Students Thursday, February 26, 2026 12:00 AM Read More 2. Fair Housing Rights & Alien Land Laws: Challenges and Advocacy for the Asian American Community Tuesday, March 4, 2025 12:00 AM Read More 2. Historical Re-Hash - Alien Land Law and SB147 Wednesday, March 1, 2023 12:00 AM Read More 2. Policy Needs for U.S. Science and Scientists Wednesday, December 2, 2020 12:00 AM Read More 3. Building Coalition Against “China Initiative” Discrimination - Fighting racial targeting of Asian Americans and communities of color, past & present Wednesday, February 24, 2021 12:00 AM Read More 3. Geopolitics, Identity, and the Fight for Civil Rights Wednesday, June 3, 2026 12:00 AM Read More 4. Legal Resources and Policy Advocacy - How to Combat Racial Profiling Under the “China Initiative” Wednesday, April 28, 2021 12:00 AM Read More 5. The Mistrial of Professor Anming Hu under the "China Initiative" Wednesday, June 23, 2021 12:00 AM